The Church We Carry: Loss, Leadership, and the Future of Our Church

by William H. Willimon

Breaking faith, finding wisdom for leading divided churches in divisive times.

Trusted and respected leader Will Willimon explores how failures in leadership and theological vision contributed to our current denominational crisis. Through the lens of a South Carolina historic congregation, this book offers a critical analysis that will enlighten today’s congregational leaders on navigating the complexities of ministry in our uncertain future.

As a retired United Methodist bishop and expert in ordained leadership, Willimon reflects on a simple-to-ask-but-complicated-to-answer What has become of the church that shaped his faith? Focusing on Buncombe Street Methodist Church, he examines their journey through disaffiliation to shed light on leadership challenges within our denomination, including his own role.

This insightful resource provides a candid exploration of the realities of ministry today, inviting us to confront our grief and shortcomings while embracing our duty to serve Christ’s church in the present moment. Gain valuable insights from real-life experiences, learn from those labeled as “schismatic,” and discover practical strategies for effective leadership in today’s evolving church landscape.

202 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 5, 2025

About the author

The Reverend Dr. William H. Willimon is Professor of the Practice of Christian Ministry at the Divinity School, Duke University. He served eight years as Bishop of the North Alabama Conference of The United Methodist Church, where he led the 157,000 Methodists and 792 pastors in North Alabama. For twenty years prior to the episcopacy, he was Dean of the Chapel and Professor of Christian Ministry at Duke University, Durham, North Carolina.

Reviews

[George Donigian · Rating 4 out of 5]

While C.S. Lewis wrote The Great Divorce to reflect on heaven and hell, Will Willimon writes of a minor-major and painful divorce within the United Methodist Church (UMC). It is the story of a large church in Greenville, South Carolina in which Willimon, now a retired bishop of the UMC, was nurtured spiritually and intellectually. That church has now exited the denomination, a process called "disaffiliation." Willimon matter-of-factly describes what happened in the church and the judicatory. His reflections also serve as a guide to the church in general and to those who are part of the peculiar clergy-church appointment system. He emphasizes biblical and Wesleyan values of connection rather than separation, referencing John Wesley's sermon "On a Catholic Spirit" in which Wesley wrote, “Though we can’t think alike, may we not love alike?” I appreciate Willimon's ability to sort through many interviews with those who lived through this fight. Toward the end, Willimon offers basic observations for individuals and for the system. As usual in Willimon's writing, his observations and commentary are sharp. I commend this fast read.

[Jane Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grateful for Bishop Willimon

In this book, I had the opportunity to reflect further on the PTSD from my own experiences and recognize it’s not a journey I live in alone. From our leadership down, all of that experienced the attempted coup on our denomination gave away a piece of ourselves in the struggle to preserve a faith so special.